Peach pitter



T. B. KEESLING PEACH'PITTER Sept. 22, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June25, 1949 IN VEN TOR. M04445 6, [EMU/74 T. B. KEESLING Sept. 22, 1953PEACH PITTER 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1949 PEACH PITTER FiledJune 25, 1949 10 SheetsSheet 3 Sept. 22, 1953 2 T. B. KEESLING PEACHPITTER l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1949 T. B. KE G PEAC ER 10Shee1; e12 6 Filed June 25, 1949 "BR-Iii ZV/W 4% y A Q p 1953 T. B.KEESLING 2,652,872

PEACH PITTER Filed June 25, 1949 L. NIHIII 1 H 11 75 w m. I

I [(2 d5 7. iw 6a INEN 1O Sheets-Sheet 7 2 T. B. KEESLING Sept. 22, 1953PEACH PITTER 1O Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 25, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 22, 1953 PEACH PITTER Filed June 25, 1949 1o Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. 7mm .6, Kim/#4;

2T. B. KEESLING 2,652,872 2 Sept. 22, 1953 T. B. KEESLING PEACH PITTER10 stints-Sheet 10 Filed June 25, 1949 INVENTOR. M04145 5 ffifiZ/M;

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATEE igCiENT OFFKIE 28 Claims.

The present invention relates to peach pitters and is concerned moreparticularly with an improved pitter in which the peach is held for thepitting operation by gripping the pit.

The invention has for its objects, among others, the provision of apitting structure which will enable the pitting of field run peacheswithout special sizing operations; which supports the peach by its pitduring the pitting operation and thereby avoids damage to or bruising ofthe flesh of the peach; which avoids the necessity for having asubstantially enclosed pitting structure which is diflicult of access asfound in conventional pitters which hold the peach halves from theirouter surfaces; which always removes substantially the same thickness offlesh with the peach pit; and which removes many design limitations inpitting structures by virtue of the accessibility of the pittingstructure for feed purposes.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the peach .pitter involving theinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the peach pitter.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with certain parts brokenaway and shown in section to show details of construction.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view looking from the end of themachine with certain parts broken away and shown in section toillustrate details of construction. The pitting heads are shown inclosed portion.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the pitting headswith certain parts shown in section.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken as indicated by the line7-4 in Figure 6.

Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are views taken similarly to Figure7 but with the parts shown in different operating positions orconditions of the pitting heads.

Figure 15 is a sectional view through one of the pitting heads taken asindicated by the line 15-15 in Figure '7.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of one jaw of a pitting head.

Figure 17 is perspective View of the cooperating jaws of a pitting head.

Figure 18 is a plan view of one of the reaction connecting links.

Figure 19 is an elevational view of the links shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a bottom plan view of the control cam.

Figure 21 is an enlarged view, partially in section, illustratingdetails of construction of the control slide with the slide shown intripped position.

Figure 22 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by the line22-22 in Figure 3.

Figure 23 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by the line23-23 in Figure 3.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 23 but showing the parts in adifferent operating position.

Figure 25 is also similar to Figures 23 and 24 but showing anotheroperating condition of the parts.

Referring to Figures 1 through 4, the peach pitter includes a framestructure for supporting the various operating parts including a baseplate In from the respective sides of which concavely curved side wallsll extend upwardly with their upper straight vertically disposedportions connected as by welding to the bottom wall of a U- shaped frameor housing member 2. The housing member l2 has secured thereon a topplate l3. Respective end walls I 4 and Ma are detachably secured to theframe structure by a plurality of cap screws [6 engaging suitablethreaded frame blocks ll welded to the frame structure.

The respective side walls II and the lower chamber of the frame serve tohouse similar oppositely disposed pitting heads 20 respectively, whichare exposed through similar apertures 20a in the respective side wallsH. The space within the upper frame member I2 serves to house suitablecontrol and drive structure required in connection with the pittingheads 2!], as referred to in greater detail hereinafter.

As explained generally above, the pitting heads 29 are provided withgripping elements or jaws comprising respective spaced fingers which areadapted to grasp the half of a pit within a split peach half so that thepeach halves engaged therewith are supported entirely by virtue of thepit. Preferably, these pitting heads are provided with a floatingmounting, that is, they are capable of limited universal movement inengaging a peach pit, so that the position of the peach with referenceto the pitting head need not be adjusted too accurately. This floatingmovement is also employed in the actual closing of the gripping jaws tograsp the peach pit when the heads are tripped for the peach securingoperation preliminary to the actual pitting or cutting away of the fleshof the peach from the peach pit.

Referring to Figures 4, 5, 6, '7 and through 19, the structure of therespective pitting heads and their connection to each other will bedescribed in detail. Referring particularly to Figures 4, 5, and 6, theleft-hand pitting head 2%} as seen in'Figure 4, which is seen inelevation in Figure 6, comprises a pair of opposed jaws 2| and 22 havingrespective spaced apart tapered gripping fingers 2|a and 220.,respectively. The jaw 2| has its fingers 2|a spaced farther apart thanthe fingers 22a of the jaw 22 and vis adapted .to be related to the stemend of the pit while the jaw 22 is for cooperation withthenarrowerablossom end of the pit.

The jaws 2| and 22 are connected by a toggle linkage controlling their"open and closed positions and also cooperatingwith the jaws inproviding for proper positioning of a peach half with reference to thejaws. A pair of parallel toggle links 23 are pivotally connected to thejaw2| by a'pin-Z i. These 'links 23 extend into respective recessedslots 2|b of the jaw 2|. At their opposite ends the links 23 arepivotally connected to a support shaft ,25 referred to in greater detailhereinafter. Respective parallel links 28 forming the other part of thetoggle linkage are also pivotally connected to the shaft 25 at one endand to the jaw 22 at the other by a pin'2'i. As seen in Figure 7, therespective links 23 and '25 have respective flat surfaces 23:; and 26awhich in the retracted or home position of the jaws 2| and 22, as seenat the left of Figure 7, lie in the same plane to form a generally flatpit-engaging surface during position of the pit and peach half withrespect thereto, as referred to inrgreater detail hereinafter.

The opposite pitting head 20., ,i. .e., the one to the left in Figure[7,, is likewise composed of a large jaw 3|, a small jaw .32, the largejaw being connected by toggle links 33 to thesupport and control shaft.35, ,and the small jaw being connected by toggle links 36 to this shaft35. As will be explained later in greater detail, the respective supportand control shafts 25 and .35

have a floating mounting and are thrust outwardly to open the respectivejaws and inwardly with respect to each other .to close these jaws. Toprovide points of reaction for these respective linkages the respectivepitting heads are interconnected by a pair of links v irl and 42.(Figure 7). The link il has one .end positioned between the toggle arms23 of the head 2| and its pivotally connected thereto by a ,pin .43,while its other end is interposed between the parallel links 33 and ispivotally connected thereto by a pin M. It will be noted that thepivotal connections 43 and 44 of the respective toggle arms 23 and 33are disposed intermediate the pivotal connection to the shafts and 35,respectively, and the jaws 2| and 3|, respectively. Similarly, theconnecting link 42 isv connected between the other set of toggle arms 26and 36, respectively, with a similar intermediate positioning of thesepivots 43 and i t with respect to the toggle arms.

To further control and guide the movement of the jaws 2|, 22 and 3| and32 of the respective heads 28 and to thereby insure parallel positioningof these jaws in their respective adjusted positions, the jaws 2| and 22(Figure 7) '47 for clearance purposes with respect to the cooperatinglink 23 or 33, as the case may be. Link 42 is similarly constructed.

In controlling the pivoting movement of the toggle linkages in therespective pitting heads, the reaction links ll and 42 while floatinglymounted are restrained against endwise floating, i. e., in the crosswisedirection between the two heads, but are permitted a lateral floatingmovement in a direction at right angles thereto. For this purpose thereactions links 4| and 32 (Figures 4 and 19') are :provided withrespective pins 48 extending vertically therethrough for cooperationwith respective grooved guides .49 and 5| disposed immediately above andbelow the pitting 'head structure and suitably secured between the sidewalls "H. The lower guide 5| is preferably removably -mounted to enableinstallation of the pitting heads in place on the shafts'25 and 35.

Each of the pitting heads has associated therewith a pitting knife ofsemi-circular form, the respective knives being similar in constructionbut being so connected to their hubs that they are in right-hand andleft-hand positions as finally assembled in the machine. The knife 52 iures 6, '7 ,andlfi) .has respective hubs .53 and 54 secured thereto andthese hubs are provided with respective hexagonal sockets of differingsize with the smaller socket in the hub 56 for driving engagement withhexagonal sections 56 and .51 of the drive ,shaft .25. It will be notedthat these hubs 53 and 54 (Figure 6) have respective flat surfaces 53aand 52a lying in a plane containing the cutting edge of the knife andalso lying ,in the plane of the pit positioning surfaces 23a and 26a ofthe links 23 and 23 in the home position of the pitting head as seen inFigure '7. As seen in Figure '7, the knife 52 has a bevel 52a on itsinner periphery to form the cutting edge and this bevel 52a .also servesin a manner later described in certain pitting operations .to aid in the.success thereof.

Referring to Figures ,3 through 6,, the respective shafts 25 and 35extend upwardly through suitable apertures in the bottom wall of the"frame member |2 and through respective floating guide sleeves 6| and 62.slidably supported on the frame member l2. At their upper ends theshafts 25 and 35 carry respective collars 63 of a flexible driveconnection therefor. The respective collars'63 are providedat theirlower ends with teeth of crown gear type meshing with similar teeth atthe upper end of .a drive coupling 64, which is internally recessed at64a in each case to provide clearance for the floating movement of theassociated shaft '25 or 35. The drive coupling 64 is seated on a drivesleeve 66 secured thereto by a collar 6'! and an associated set screw,and the collar 61 is supported on a tubular housing member 68 mounted onthe top of the frame. At the lower ends of the respective drivesleevesfiB there are provided gears 69 and'H, respectively, which meshwith each other, and are driven in a man her later described from adrive handle 12. The geared connection between the collars 63 and thedrive couplings 64 is of a conventional form and transmits a drive whileproviding a limited amount of relative universal tilting movement, as aresult of the the respective pitting heads.

As previously stated, the respective control and mounting shafts 25 and35, while having their own mounting for floating movement, are under thecontrol of spring-urged means and latch means to control their movementbetween open and closed positions. With the respective shafts 25 and 35spread apart as shown in Figure 7, for example, the jaws of the headsare open. The spring means for urging the shafts inwardly to their headclosing position are best illustrated in Figures 3 and 22. 25 nestsloosely within its sliding guide collar 6| to which are attachedrespective springs 16 and 11 disposed substantially at right angles toeach other and extending between respective pins 19 and 19 secured tothe frame of the machine and respective clips 8| secured as by weldingto the sleeves BI. It will be noted that the spring 16 is in a lowerplane than the spring 11. Similarly the shaft 35 and its sleeve 62 areunder control of respective springs 82 and 93.

To restrain such inward movement of the shafts 25 and 35 except whensuch movement is desired, these shafts are under control of respectiverestraining levers 86 and 81 (Figure 23) respectively pivoted at 88 and39 ona frame bar 9I. At their free ends the levers 35 and 91 haverespective V-shaped shoes 86a and 81a to engage the shafts 25 and 35,respectively. To hold the shafts 25 and 35 in their normal outwardpositions and to control release thereof to move under spring pressureto their inner positions, the arms 86 and 81 intermediate their ends arepivotally connected to respective links 92 and 93 of a toggle linkagepivotally connected at 94 to a control slide 99. Referring to Figures 3and 21, the control slide 96 is made up of a lower piece 96a guided atone end in the end wall I4 and an upper piece 991; connected thereto bya block 91 in which a control pin 99, referred to hereinafter, issecured. At its left end the portion 90b of the control slide 96 arecarries a vertically extending control pin 99, also referred tohereinafter.

Referring again to Figure 23, it will be noted that the respective pairsof toggle links 92 and 93 are broken upwardly with respect to theircenter so that the springs I9, 11, 82, and 83 acting through the shafts25 and 35 and the arms 86 and 81 hold the toggle linkage 92-93 in theposition as shown in Figure 23.

Release means are provided for the toggle control linkage of the pittingheads to enable the spring actuating means therefor to move them fromtheir outer positions (pitting heads open) to their inner positions(pitting heads closed), and this control means is preferably responsiveto the positioning of respective peach halves with reference to therespective pitting heads by the operator.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 23, there is associated with the pittinghead comprising the jaws 2I and 22 a peach responsive trip element orpitv locator IOI which has a knife edge IOIa presented to the stem endof a pit when the peach is placed in aligned position with the pittinghead.

shafts 25 and 35 are mounted at their upper ends in connection with thedrive] therefor to provide limited universal floating movement of thelower ends thereof which carry As seen in Figure 22, the shaft I0! iscarried by a trip lever I 02 pivoted at I03 on the adjacent wall II andurged clockwise by a spring I04. At its upper end the lever I02 (Figures4 and 23) has a bent end I02a which is apertured to receive loosely apivot pin I06 secured in a cross-arm I01. This cross-arm extends acrossthe lower portion 96a of the control slide 96 and carries a central pinI08 engaged in a slot I09 of the slide 96. The other head 20 comprisingthe jaws 3| and 32 has a similar tripping arrangement including atripping element III (Figures 4 and 23) on a lever II2 pivoted at II3and having a spring II4 associated therewith. At the upper end the leverH2 is connected by a pin IIB. with the other end of the arm I01. Therespective ends of the arms I 02 and II 2 are also associated withrespective adjustable stop screws H1 and H8 carried by respective blocksII9 secured on the side walls II and having suitable lock screwsassociated ther with. Access to the through suitable apertures in theend cover plate I4.

This trip element Preferably, the spacing of the tripping elements IMand III and the amount of movement thereof by a peach half is such thatrearward movement of either of the levers I02 or I I2 by itself (byengagement therewith of a peach) is insufiicient to move the controlslide 96 as there is sufficient lost motion between the pin I08 of theconnecting link I01 and the adjacent end of the slot I09. However, whenboth of the levers I 02 and H2 are moved at the same time, either byrespective peach halves on the respective pitting heads or by one peachhalf an manual control of the other, then the movement of the controlslide 9-9 occurs and is sufilcient to move the center pivot 94 (Figure23) of the toggle linkage 9293 past center, so that the spring urgedshafts 25 and 35 are moved inwardly from the full-line position shown inFigure 23, to an intermediate position with the extreme shown in dottedlines, so that the pitting heads are closed and the peach pit or peachpits, as the case may be, are grasped by the respective jaws of thepitting heads (see Figure 8) so that the peach halves are held ready forthe pitting operation.

The operating means for the pitting knives includes a drive traincomprising a gear I3I (Figures 3 and 22) carried by an extended hub I32that extends between and is journalled in the top plate 13 and thebottom wall of the frame piece I2. The gear I3I carries the operatinghandle I2. This gear I3I meshes with a gear I33 of equal size similarlycarried by an extended hub I34. The extension of the hub I34 carries acam segment I38 which has a pin I39, which, in the home position of theparts shown in Figure 22, engages one arm I4I of a bell crank pivoted atI42 and having a second arm I43 extending across in cooperative relationto the pin 99, and having an aperture end engaging over a guide rod I44for a restoring spring I 46 which is held normally in compressedposition by the arm I43 as shown in Figure 22. This spring I46 and thecooperating parts is a restoring spring to move the shafts 25 and 35 aslater described from their inner positions where they are spring held bythe springs 16, 11, 82 and 83 to their outer positions where they willbe again held, by the slide and the toggle control linkage 92-93therefor.

Referring to Figure 23, if the peach halves are moved downwardly asshown in this view to engage the tripping elements I 0| and III, the

screws II1 may be had slide :96 is moved so that the toggle92 93 isbroken. The cooperating parts, including the arms 86, 81 :and the shafts25 -and-35, are'moved from their full linepositions to their dotted linepositions, corresponding to the full line positions thereof shown inFigure 24. This also corresponds to the pit engaging positions of therespective sets of pitting jaws shown in Figure 8.

With the parts conditioned as shown in Figures 8 and 24, that is, withthe peach halves supported by their pits ready for pitting, the drivearm 12 is'moved clockwise for approximately 90 from the:position shownin'Figure 24 toperform the pitting operation, that the gear l33and thecam segment [38 follow counterclockwise, thepin I39 slowly releasingthebell crank Nil-I43 so that the spring I46 is active-to move the slide 96through the'pin 99 upwardly until the upper trapezoidal endiilia of thepin 98 engages the outer surface of thecam I38 torestrain further suchmovement during the pitting operation. This outer cam-surface 138a isseen most clearly in Figure 20. As the cam segment continues travellinguntilit moves beyond the end 98a of the pin- 98, as seen in Figure 25,the spring MS becomes effective to snap the toggle links 92,93 and thecontrol 'slide tto the position shown in Figure 25, where the center ofa toggle linkage is just slightly beyon-zlcenter but is not entirely athome position. This position is determined when the en'd'98a of the pinengages an inner surface i38b=of the cam segment I38, and near the endofthe travel of the operating handle 12. During this stroke of the handle12, the peach pits are cut away'from the flesh of the peach.

During the return-movement'of the handle 12 from the position shown inFigure 25, the pin I39 operates on thearm hit of the bell crank tore-cock the spring M6 and toward the latter part of the travel of thecam segment in this direction'asurface i380 thereof engages the end 98aof the pin 98 to move the control slide and the toggle links 92--93 fromthe positions shown in Figure 25 to that shown in Figure 22.

'The operation of the pitting head and the flexibility of the operationis illustrated by the series of views comprising Figures '7 through 14.As previouslyexplained, Figure 7 shows both of the heads 20 'ready toreceive peach halve while Figure 8-shows these heads after they havebeen tripped to 'engagethe pits of the respective peach halves ready forthe pitting operation. Figure 9 illustratesthe'positions of the parts ofthe respective pitting heads just after the pitting knives start theirtravel. In this connection, it will be noted that the position of theshafts 25 and 35 during movement-of the jaws to their positions inengaging the pits, is placed in a controlled relation to the outer pitsurface in accordance with "the size of the pit so that a substantiallyuniform thickness of flesh will be left on the various-sizes of pits.

Figure 10 shows the position of the parts at the end of the pittingstroke of the knives while Figure 11. shows the jaws released at the endof the pitting stroke just prior to return of the knives to the homeposition shown in Figure '7.

Figure 12 illustrates the flexibility of the connected pitting headswhereby one can grasp a large peach "pit while the other is grasping -asmall peachipit, these being entirely independent of each other as faras their capacity is concerned with reference to the size of the pit.Such an operation'mlght occur when the peach is split or sawed in halfslightly off center so that one large-half pit-and one smallone results.Figure 13 shows theflexibility of thepittingheads in being offsetlaterallydue-to-different positionin of respective peach halves withrespect to thepitting heads.

Figure 14 illustrates the flexibility of the ma chine in-operating ononly a single peach half in the pitting operation when the other peachhalf might have failed to have been secured by the pitting head, forexample, because of the presence of a shattered pit or the like.

In the operation-shown in Figure 14, a1so,if the pit half presented isextremely large, as shown in phantom lines so that the normal path ofthe knife would not clear the pit, the bevelled undersurface 52a of theknife acts as a cam surface to cause the knife to ride up over the pitand displace thecenter of the shaft 35 outwardly. While this at the sametime serves to .open the jaws with respect to the peach pit, it will benoted that the knife driving against the peach pit will force it intoone set of the jaws so that the peach half will remain secured until thepittingoperation is completed.

To summarize briefly the operation of the pitting means disclosedherein, respective peach halves are presented to the respective pittingheads as shown in Figure 23 and. are moved by the operator to-engage thestem ends thereof with the tripping elements [01 and III. This resultsin movement of the control slide '96 to break the toggle linkage 92- -93and allow the arms 86 and 81 to move inwardly under the spring pressurethereon and to move likewise the shafts 25 and 35. This resultsinmovement or adjustment of the pitting heads and the pit grippingelements thereof from the position shown in Figure '7 to that shown inFigure 8, with the extent of movement'determined by the size of the pithalves. In other words, the respective peach halves are supported by thepit portions thereof, and the knife holding and operating shafts 25 and35 are adjusted in accordance with the respective sizes of theassociated' pit portions to enable the pitting knives to perform thedesired cut.

Thereafter, the pitting knives are rotated through approximately toperform the pitting operation, and the jaws of the respective pittingheads are restored to normal open position ready for presentationthereto of the next peach halves to be pitted.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent that it is capable of variations andmodifications within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A'peach' pitter comprising'a support, a shaft mounted for universalfloating movement, a pitting head carried by said shaft comprisingopposed pit gripping means movable relative to each other and to saidshaft to grasp a pit half therebetween, an abutment adjacent and betweensaid pit gripping means for engaging the flat surface of a half pit, anda pitting knife carried by said shaft to swing in an are around saidgripping means to sever a peach half from the pit half held by saidgripp ng means.

2. A peachpitter comprising a support, a'shaft mounted for universalfloating movement, apitting head carried by said shaft comprisingopposed pit gripping means movable relative to each other and to saidshaft to grasp a pit half therebetween, an abutment adjacent-and betweensaid pit gripping means for engaging the fiat surfaces of a half pit,means for controlling said pit gripping means for relative in and outtranslatory movement with respect to each other, and a pitting knifecarried by said shaft to swing in an arc around said gripping means tosever a peach half from the pit half held by said gripping means.

3. A peach pitter comprising a support, a pair of pitting heads, eachhead including a, pair of opposed pit gripping jaws and an abutmentbetween said gripping jaws and adjacent to same for engaging the flatsurface of the half pit, each pair of jaws having interconnecting meansproviding for relative in and out movement thereof, means for urgingeach pair of jaws inwardly with respect to each other to engage a pitportion, a pitting knife connected to each pair of jaws for controlledpositioning with respect thereto and for pitting movement about saidjaws with the pit held therein, and common drive means for said knives.

4. A peach pitter comprising a support, a pair of pitting heads, eachhead including a pair of opposed pit gripping jaws and an abutmentbetween said gripping jaws and adjacent to same for engaging the flatsurface of the half pit, each pair of jaws having a connecting togglelinkage, means for urging each pair of jaws inwardly with respect toeach other to engage a pit portion, and knife means rotatably supportedcoaxially with the center pivot of each toggle linkage said knife meansbeing of arcuate construction and having a path of movement encompassingthe cooperating jaws and the pit portion held therebetween.

5. A peach pitter comprising a support, a pair of pitting heads, eachhead including a pair of opposed pit gripping jaws and an abutmentbetween said gripping jaws and adjacent to same for engaging the flatsurface of the half pit, each pair of jaws having a connecting togglelinkage, means for urging each pair of jaws inwardly with respect toeach other to engage a pit portion,

knife means rotatably supported coaxially with the center pivot of eachtoggle linkage, said knife means being of arcuate construction andhaving a path of movement encompassing the cooperating jaws and a pitportion held therebetween and a pair of parallel reaction linksrestrained against endwise movement and pivotally connected respectivelyto the arms of said toggle linkage intermediate the ends thereof.

6. A peach pitter comprising a support, a pair of pitting heads, eachhead including a pair of opposed pit gripping jaws, each pair of jawshaving a connecting toggle linkage, and knife means rotatably supportedcoaxially with the center pivot of each toggle linkage, said knife meansbeing of arcuate construction and having a path of movement encompassingthe cooperating jaws and a pit portion held therebetween and a pair ofparallel reaction links restrained against endwise movement andpivotally connected respectively to the arms of said toggle linkageintermediate the ends thereof and telescoping aligning connectionsbetween the respective aligned jaws of said heads.

7. A peach pitter comprising a support, op-

' posed gripping means to engage the peripheral edge of the pit portionof a halved peach at spaced points, an abutment between and adjacentsaid gripping means for engaging the flat surface of the half pitportion, means for supporting said gripping means for relative movementto accommodate themselves to various size peach pits, means to operatesaid gripping means to engage a pit portion, an arcuate cutting memberof a diameter to pass completely around said gripping means while thepit portion is held to sever the flesh, and journal means for saidmember on said supporting means.

8. A peach pitter comprising a support, opposed gripping means to engagethe peripheral edge of the pit portion of a halved peach at spacedpoints, an abutment between and ad acent said gripping means forengaging the flat surface of the half pit portion, means for supportingsaid gripping means for relative movement to accommodate themselves tovarious size peach pits, means to operate said gripping means to engagea pit portion, an arcuate cutting member of a diameter to passcompletely around said gripping means while the pit portion is held tosever the flesh, journal means for said member on said supporting means,and interconnecting means between said journal means and said supportingmeans to control automatically the position of said cutter member withrespect to said pit portion.

9. The peach pitter of claim 8 in which the supporting means comprises afloating toggle linkage.

10. A peach pitter comprising a support, opposed gripping elementsmounted for relative in and out movement on said support to engage thepit portion of a peach half adjacent the ends thereof, each grippingelement having respective surfaces forming an acute angle for engagingthe corner at the periphery of the peach pit half, means for controllingmovement of said gripping means including means for yieldably urgingthem to pit engaging position, pitting .means comprising an arcuatecutting element mounted for rotation about an aXis disposedsymmetrically with respect to said gripping elements and disposedintermediate the length of the peach pit engaged by said elements, andmeans for driving said pitting means to encompass said gripping elementsand a pit portion held therein.

11. A peach pitter comprising a frame, a driving shaft having a floatingmounting on said frame for rotation about an axis, an arcuate pittingknife carried by said shaft for rotation about said shaft axis, a pairof opposed pitting jaws disposed symmetrically with respect to saidshaft axis for in and out movement in a direction transverse to saidshaft axis, said jaws being disposed within the path of travel of saidknife, an abutment between and adjacent said jaws for engaging the flatsurface or a pit half, a toggle linkage connecting said jaws to eachother and to said shaft, said shaft having a position between said jawsin the open position thereof with said toggle linkage extended andhaving a retracted position with said toggle linkage broken to enablemovement of the gripping jaws inwardly to engage a half peach pit, andreaction link means pivotally contacted to each of said toggle linkageand having a connection at its other end to the frame.

12. A peach pitter comprising a support, peach half holding meansincluding opposed gripping elements and an abutment between and adjacentsaid elements for engaging the flat surface of the half pit, saidelements and said abutments being mounted on said support to engage ahalf pit at spaced points and to hold the half pit in position forpitting, pitting means positioned on said support relative to saidgripping means for j 2,652,872 '111 "12 "movement aboutsaid g'rippingelements and the which said"interconnecting-"means is ailinkagpitpbrti'on' held thereby tosever the'fiesh of the "-between the iawsand the'shaft.

"peacnhalf from the'pit"portion;'and means' on 21.A-'-peachpitter as"recited -inc1aim'= -18"-in ""said'support' for maintaining the grippingelewhichtheinterconnecting means'includesa iink- "merits" active'to holdthe" pit portionduring'at' 5 "age between 'thejawsof the shaft; and'said link- "Ieasta portion of the severing operation. "ageinc1udes"peach-ha1faligning surfaces'dis- 13. A peach pitter"'comprisinga support, a posedbetween the -jaws an'd presented in""the shaftjournaled on'sa'id -support, arcuatepitting open position of the jaws."'kni'femeans mountedonsa'id' shaft for rotation "22.*A"pea ch pitterasrecited in-claim 18 in "about 'the 'sha'ft axis, peach holding'meanscom-'-m-'whichsaid-lihkaeameans'is of to g n r pris'ing opposed pitgripping jaws and an abuttion and is pivotally connected "to said-shaftat ment' 'therebetween disposed intermediate" the Center D V' *le'ngthof'said knifefmeans fonhoiding the pit p c p r' d 11111941111 1"portionof a peach'half, linkagemeanspivotaily which saidlinkagemeans-is-of toggle construc- "conne'cted to'said' shaft intermediate thelength i tion and 'is*pivota11y connected 'to' said shaft at"of"s'aid'kn ife 'me'ans'and' to said jaws and'supitscenter-pivot,-and--reaction*means= connect- "portingsaid'jawsformelative in and out'moveedto said linkagemeans for providing relativement' to'en'gage'and hold" thepit'portionf and float'of said "jawswithreference to a halfipit. "means'forhp'eratingsaid' k'riifemeans toeffect a 24:- Inapeach-pitter, a-support; a piuraiity of cuttingperation; withthe'patn of travel of said r l iv y movable-elements to ngae h surknifemeansencompassing said gripping jaws. faceof the-half pitat'spaced-points, abutments l4fA'peachpitter'cnmprisinga'support,"m'eans adjacent said elements and between the same"forhoi'ding thehalf p-it'ofafpea'ch' half 'inc'lud- "for engaging thefiat" surf-ace *of 'the half pit, "ingppp-o'sed gripping"e1'ements' forengaging the 'means'tomovethe elements to grip '-the-ha1f-pit peripheraledge of the half. pitat spacedpoints Q5"between theelem'ehtsand-abutmentsand supand'an abutmenthetween and adjacent'said eleport'thehaIfiruit free from-any peaeh fish ""ments"fo1"engaging' the flatsurfaceof the half support; and a knife'movableabout the elements pit,pitting means movably mounted" on said while in grippingp'osition.*s'uppdrt=*relativetdsaid g'ri'p'pingel'em'ents for 25. In'apeach'-pitter,-a= supportgapei-tured movement"thereabout toseverthefieshp'orti-on abutment means' disposedin aplane and-forenoi apeach"half from theha'lf pit'the'reof; means 1 gagement' of oneside thereof'by the flat-surface foroperating'said'"gripping 'elements'to move of ahalf peach to-estab1ish a 'position bf-"the themtdfpe'achfh'oldingposition,'and means for peach-opposedpitengaging'e1ements 'mounted *oriratihgsaid pitting'means. on. theothGrTsiddbf -said'- abutment means for 155A peach pitter comprisinga'support; a-piu 5"p1'0jection to engage thesurface of the 'ha1f'i'ality ef'reiatii elym'ovab'le'elements to engage pit at spacedpoints, a shaft movably 'mounted the"surface of "the half pit of'apeachhalfat on said support on theother side 'of said abut--"sp'aeedpoints--tohold'thepeach ha1f in=p0sition mentmeans"for-shifting-of the axis "thereof, a. fol-"pitting," abutmentmeans'*'adjaeent* to" said knife carried-byisaid shaft;"means-to movesaid ielements'andhetweenthesame"for"engaging-the eiem'entstofengage"the" half pit and position fiat surface-of the half-pit; andknife'means the haif peach on-sa'idab'utmentmeans;- a c'onmou'ntediormovement "about" said gripping eietrolling connection from said'eieme'nts" to i said me'ntwhileingrip-pingiposition for severing theshaft to position-said'shaft simultaneooisiy with "fiesh' portion of thepeach hfalf from'the half pit. t a m t o the al bit-by sa d l' m nts 16.A1" peach, pitt'er as recited'inc1aimf15in S and to therebydetermine thepoint-of e'ntry of 'which'saidfgiiipp'ingelementscompriseopposed a n fento the flesh'pfthe peach--and the "jawshawing'r'espctive'spaced'apartpairs ofpit ipo'int'of" exit 'of' said knife from' 'the' -fiesh or the'gripping'finge s "peachgmeans for operating said-knife,- and means17,"Aj fpeajchf11fter a 'frecitedfin claim '15" in "forming'an internaliine oflshear foi said knife 'fwhich"saidigripping elements compri eOpposed adia'centfithep nt seem.

18."'A peach" pitter comprising a support, a- 'p t ropp ed"piteneaein*el m ntwm unt shaft ons'a'ids'upport"'h'aving" apitting knife onthe-other side-bf; Said-f-a'butmenbi111621153101 thereon, a pair'of'opposed pit'enga'ging' jaws for "p ject o o -e eeee* he u e- -t p.grasp'ing'Tthe half pit "of a peachh'alf at spaced ia j x s m w points,abutment "means adjacentand between T'sald' VP W Q i F? abutment vsaidjaws for engagingthe flat surface of a' halfigii g sfgrijfgggitiglggi311g???"there/of;faknife eigman. ew t ri"theh'af n 21E het wee n' J116 2g a svs nd 1h: a hu tm ent means i te 9 m? 1.9119 half-pitfand; position{one =and interconnecting means between said shaft Pig fi ii m l pq tand said jawsresponsive to the position .ofsaid zw e l f elements jShaft to jaws to control the position of the knife with 5 m fialqjhaftslmuvlbanequspwlth theen' p gagement hf the half-pit by'said eiementsand-to F Q Fh a g andimeansfonefiectmgtherebydeterminethepoint'of'entryof'said knife e a n s m me (to Passinto the flesh of .the peach andthe'point 'of'exit saidJaws-.anchtheha1f-p1twh11e held therein to bf Saidikmfefromfvthe-ifi'esh.bf-wheepeach: means i plttmgeoperatlon Iforoperatingsaidknifa'means forminga lineof In a vpeach pi ter asrecitedln-claim 1 m shear for said knife adjacent thepoint of 'exit, "Ww m provided yieldly g 'fi' and means" formaintaining the relative-position from an open positiontoa closed'pit engaging -of saidelements'and said shaft-during "initial position. *driving' of said' knife.

"20.A peeich'pitter as recited in"c1aim-'l8"in 275Apeach"putter-"comprising a supportr a shaft mounted for universalfloating movement on said support, a pitting head carried by said shaftcomprising opposed pit gripping jaws for engaging the peripheral edge ofthe pit portion of a halved peach, an abutment between and adjacent thegripping jaws for engaging the flat surface of the half pit, a togglelinkage connecting said jaws and pivotally connected at its center tosaid shaft, a pitting knife carried by said shaft for rotation about theshaft axis and for cutting movement about said pitting jaws and a pitportion held therein, and resilient means relatively urging said shaftand said jaws to effect closing movement of said jaws to engage a pit.

28. A peach pitter comprising a support, a shaft mounted for universalfloating movement on said support, a pitting head carried by said shaftcomprising opposed pit gripping jaws for engaging the peripheral edge ofthe pit portion of a halved peach, an abutment between and adjacent thegripping jaws for engaging the flat surface of the half pit, a togglelinkage connecting said jaws and pivotally connected at its center tosaid shaft, a pitting knife carried by said shaft for rotation about theshaft axis and for cutting movement about said pitting jaws and a, pitportion held therein, normally restrained resilient means relativelyurging said shaft and said jaws to effect closing movement of said jawsto engage a pit, and means responsive to positioning of a peach halfinto operative relation with the pitting head for releasing therestraint of said resilient means.

THOMAS B. KEESLING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber

